I'm Sick of It Already

I don't want to be the Grinch. Really.

It's November 17th and I'm sick of Christmas already.

My general feeling is a year is over around November 1. I enjoy Halloween, mostly as an observer, plus the World Series is wrapping up.

After that? Sure, there's football and we'll get to hockey and basketball, but there's also the oncoming gloom of the holidays.

The holidays aren't the most wonderful time of the year for many. There are family get-togethers that include pressure for where they take place and who are in attendance, combined with cost and myriad other eye-rolling elements.

But this is about being sick of it.

Look, the crass commercialism of it all hits me eventually every year, but it struck me like a spark from an exposed wire in a case of Poland Spring water...

Oh, wait. Bad analogies were from last night's post.

Anyway, it struck me today as I was sitting on the floor installing a new doorknob when I heard whatever commercial that was on during the Ravens/Texans game for the 45th time or so.

I think it was JC Penney. I mean, if you want business, this is not the right way to get it.

I didn't used to loathe holiday music, to be honest. I quite enjoyed the seasonal sounds of certain hits. I can listen to John Lennon sing "So, this is Christmas, and what have you done..." and feel wistful. Nat King Cole brings "all the feels" with some "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." There are others.

But my God hell is a place that includes "All I Want For Christmas is You" sung by twelve drunk women in Nashville at a bachelorette party in December.

Maybe Mariah Carey can rerecord it with Maroon 5.

The holidays are very difficult for a lot of people. In my case, it's the complication of not spending Christmas with Sean (I've seen him on Christmas morning for years, only to drop him off by 9 a.m.). The joy of that situation manifested itself perfectly in the solo Christmas of 2014, when I visited my father's grave and walked around his cemetery for some time before going home and watching four movies.

Oh, what fun!

Thanksgiving starts out fine, because I work every year. I'm out of the house around 6 a.m. and drive to Westport, Greenwich, Stamford, or some other game site for the game that morning. We always have a lot of fun (mostly) before I head to...wherever. One year, I left Greenwich and drove to Pennsylvania. Even without Sean, it was one of the happiest Thanksgivings.

Too many times, I wound up at a relatives house (or even home), just wanting to curl up, watch football, and sleep.

But, to quote the Rev. Al Green, "I'm so tired of being alone."

For many, loved ones are missed during the holidays more than ever (my father loved Christmas, for instance) and that sadness can be difficult to overcome. Or you get to be reminded of the loss if the anniversary hits during the season (a la St. Patrick's Day for me).

But suck it up and smile! And buy lots of goodies! Save the economy!

People are sleeping the streets. Did you know (according to the World Health Organization) over 300 million people experience depression? Plus one person commits suicide every 40 seconds.

These numbers are not holiday-specific, but it speaks to not everyone singing "Joy to the World."

Hallmark hits us with Christmas ornaments in July. That's just one example.

But, yeah, run the commercials with the big ridiculous red bow on the car or the ostentatious jewelry or the "must have "children's gift.

Bah humbug.

I realize it can be turned off, of course.

This is not to say my heartstrings can't be played with. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer always makes me thinking of sitting with my dad in his recliner as we watched it. It's a Wonderful Life...well...I love me some Jimmy Stewart, and many of us have stood staring into the abyss waiting for our own Clarence the angel to rescue us and show us why we matter.

I know I have.

Please don't let this mean that I am the person who will ruin your holiday cheer. I smile and genuinely enjoy certain things. And I actually believe that, one day, I won't feel like this.

But I'm not there.

There are sad economic and emotional realities to the holidays for me, so overall, I'm content to blast right on through to January 2nd. Thus it's all over with.

But don't worry. Then we can start seeing ads for Valentine's Day.